Sonic disruption
As is fairly evident if you've read any of my posts before, I usually like to play music when I'm out running. I mean, it's not a deal breaker. Shorter runs it doesn't matter so much. I usually don't have my headphones when I'm at work and nip out for a 5km, for example. In fact, even on longer runs, things have conspired to stop me listening to my tunes when I'm out. The "things" in my instance are two-fold: my headphones running out of power (see later); and secondly (and most annoyingly), a small boy, as my son often decides to switch on Spotify on his Alexa to listen to his own playlists. This means the music stops, rather than me having to listen to his playlist, and for that I'm thankful. I could pay for a double membership but I'm too tight, so this results in me completing my route unaccompanied. To be fair, more lately we have got aceess to Amazon Music so when he puts his music on now I still get to hear Spotify.
The question is, what's the best soundtrack to a run? If you asked a million runners this question, you'd get a million different answers. Personally, I'm quite eclectic in my tastes, as some of the tracks I've included in posts so far might suggest. 90s and 00s dance has some good tunes for the trail: something that builds to a euphoric crescendo and has a decent throbbing beat throughout. I'm also a dyed in the wool rocker, so a decent rock track is good to go with. Hip hop is also great, or some drum and bass. Throw in the odd piece of indie, the odd punk tune and a select few classic soul or disco tracks and I'd still come up with something different that I hear and think "this would be great to run to".
A classic 90s banger. I admit I've got a long association with this track as I've been love-bombed by it, firstly as a warm up track in one of the first aerobics classes I ever attended, and later as a tune on GTA4 soundtrack, and have great memories of driving a stolen fast car into the sunset to complete some mission or other with this on the car stereo
In terms of audio input, I have stuck solely to music for my runs, though I am aware that many people enjoy listening to podcasts or maybe audiobooks. I suppose it depends on what you want from whatever you're listening to as you run. Up until now I've wanted to have something to keep my ears busy and keep my mind away from the pain, and maybe something to immerse myself in that goes with the view or terrain, but, in a way, it could be time that could be useful. A podcast might be something I could try, or maybe an audiobook. Maybe a self-help book on how to become a millionaire. Imagine that! You start running a worried about your next credit card bill and finish in a higher tax bracket, contemplating which model of Ferrari to buy.
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| Listen to the right playlist as you run and you too could end up like this Source: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncle-Pennybags-Monopoly-Enamel-Lapel/dp/B07B9QJMHH |
One other innovation I could consider is Zombies, Run! This is an immersive, interactive game based on running where you have to keep ahead of a lurching horde of virtual zombies. Apparently (and I only learnt this in researching this blog post) you run along your own route, "picking up" virtual supplies for your zombie sanctuary at intervals. It even has a feature where you have to increase your pace to stay ahead of the undead in a sort of interval training function. It also intersperses narration amongst your own playlist. I have to admit I kind of like the idea of this and I've just loaded the app onto my phone to give it a go. I'll do some sort of review in a later post.
Zombie by the Cranberries
Technology has helped in running to music. In the very olden days, when I first considered running, I used a good, old-fashioned Walkman (or, more likely, some other, cheaper personal stereo made by some company other than Sony, and if you don't know what I'm talking about, just ask you grandparents) with good, old-fashioned cassettes. It had to come with an anti-roll mechanism which, apparently (according to the manufacturers) allowed them to play while bouncing around as your run. I never really did much running with one of these, so I can't comment on whether this was actually a thing or not. More recently I had an MP3 player which was good, and would have worked perfectly for running as it contained no moving parts. It was much easier to make playlists, didn't need to be rewound or flipped over halfway through. Now, of course, it's all about the streaming. Any phone and a Spotify account and you've got pretty much any music created at the touch of a screen. That's not the only innovation.
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| The struggle was reel Source: https://screencrush.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-soundtrack-cassette-tape/ |
Everything from the Walkman through Discman and Minidisc player to MP3 player all had one thing in common: you're tethered to them via your earphones wire. Then this concept was turned on its head with the advent of wireless, Bluetooth headphones. I bought a pair a couple of years ago and they are great. I've even done Body Combat sessions with them linked to my computer to keep the noise down. As mentioned before I'm no fashion victim when it comes to tech and also that I have a deep dislike and general distrust of all things Apple (apart from the occasional cider), so I don't like the idea of Airpods. My 'phones are connected to one another by a wire and are magnetic so they'll stick together making them OK to wear as a necklace if they run out of juice (or my son wants to listen to Billie Eilish, kicking me off Spotify) and generally quite diffcult to lose. However, the Airpods look to be about the same size as a gnat's penis and I just know that I would lose one or more of them within minutes, and I'd also not feel very secure knowing that one of them could pop out of my ear and plop into a canal or something while out on the trail.
The downside of wireless headphones, however, is the need to keep them charged. I already mentioned this was a bugbear of mine relating to running watches and fitness trackersin a previous post, and it's the same for these headphones. The beauty of wired 'phones is they are passive and don't need a power source. However, if you want to transmit a radio signal (which is essentially what Bluetooth is), they need to be powered by way of an integrated battery so need frequest charging. It is worth it for the freedom to put your phone in your pocket and have your 'phones unattahed to it.
This week's activities
I managed two runs this week. My frequent Friday lunchtime sojourn and my Sunday long run. As always all activities were powered by Tikiboo. Track of the week is another from my current running playlist, if anyone's interested, a spot of very early hip-hop, sampling Chic
The Sugar Hill Gang,
I'm the H.to the A. to the L.F.A. with an R.and an S.E.D, with an R.U.N and an N.E.R I go running them I'm home for tea
Runs
Friday: Lunchtime run on my longer route
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| More S Yorks. Or W Yorks. It's kind of on the cusp, but that don't make it any less beautiful |
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| Ready to go |
Sunday: Long run day. *Intended to keep it to 10km, but ended up with 12km. Got very annoyed at some muppet in a really bad leather cowboy hat who, after his dog shat on the trail, kicked it into the grass at the side rathet than pick it up. I told him off. There was some good other sights to see, including a swan on its nest. Wore sunglasses and hat for the first time and Tikiboo loose shorts.
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| My usual view on the way over Jenkin Lane |
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| West Yorkshire |
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| I love me a bit of waterway |
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| Weeping willow |
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| If I'd stayed any longer the bird would have broken my arm with one swipe of its wing (or not, I think that's an urban myth) |
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| I bloody love these shorts |
Other stuff
Saturday: (45 minutes, 406 kcal). My now regular Step Aerobics session. 45 minutes of syncopated joy with a block to keep you company at Real Group X. I noticed about ⅔ of the way through my tracker wasn't recording so had to stop and start it again (and forgot to switch it off after the second start), hence two data pictures, New Tikiboos as well
Monday: Rest day. My knee is still aching a little so gave it a rest
Tuesday: Body Combat at home (release 82, 45 minutes, 341 kcal in my son's room) I'd planned to go to the gym, but had to come home as our son had been poorly earlier, but thanks to his recuperative powers he was better later in the day and running my wife ragged so she needed some support.
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| Just a victim of the Les Mills Online They say jump, you say "How high?" |
Wednesday: Body Combat at Total Fitness. A thorough beasting for an hour (mixed tracks, 60 minutes, 552 kcal)
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| Another post-workout car selfie |
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| Yes, that is a Tikiboo top. I'm such a Tikiboo tart |
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